T-coupling for pipes.



No. 7|3,s47. Patented Nov. Il, 1902.

J. J. wenn'.

T-CUUPLING` FDR PIPES.

(lo Model.)

IVAM' UNTTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOI-IN J. REILLY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

T-COUPLlNG FOR PlPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,347, dated November11, 1902.

Application filed January 6, 1902. Serial No. 88,636. KNO modeLl T0 allwhom, t 71u03/ concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. REILLY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jeerson and State ofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inT-Oouplings for Pipes,of which the following is a specification.

My invention is designed for the production of an improved flexibleT-coupling for pipes and the like, the object of the same being toprovide novel means whereby a series of pipes may be connected one withthe other, with the provision of means for maintaining close jointsbetween the dierent parts of the coupling at all points.

Certain other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of a casing having a series of openings thereinat three different points, caps secured to the open ends of said casingprovided with openings surrounded by annular bearing-surfaces,coupling-sections having hollow balls or spherical enlargements thereonextending into said casing, a spring or series of springs acting inopposite directions upon two of said balls for maintaining the same inconstant contact with two of said bearing-surfaces,and a spring or setof sprin gs located within said casing and acting upon a iixed partthereof and upon the other of said balls for maintaining the latter inconstant contact With the bearing-surface with which it cooperates.

The invention also consists in certain features and details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter morefully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is asectional view of a T- coupling constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is adetail view of one of the presser-blocks.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The casing 1 is formed with a cylindrical body 2 and with a cylindricalextension 3 at right angles thereto. The body 2 communicates with theextension 3 through an opening 4, around which is formed aninwardlyextending flange or ledge 5, which is integral with the casing1.

The opposite ends of the body 2 of the casing have bolted or otherwisesecured to them the caps 5aM 6, provided with openings which aresurrounded by annular bearing-surfaces 7 8. The end of the extension 3also has bolted or otherwise secured to it a cap 9, which is providedwith a central opening surrounded by an annular bearingsurface 10. Thecoupling-sections 11 and 12 are formed with hollow balls 0r sphericalenlargements 13 14, which extend into the body 2 of the casing, areprovided with openings 15 and 16, and are adapted to seat against thebearing-surfaces 7 and 8, respectively, to form flexible joints. Thesaid bearing-surfaces 7 and 8 are ground with the same curvature as theexterior surfaces of the balls 13 and 14, so that said balls may seatagainst said bearing-surfaces to form close joints in any positions towhich they may bermoved. Located within the body 2 of the casing-betweenthe balls 13 and 14 are the presser-blocks 17 and 18. The presser-block17 is formed with an annular concave surface 19, which lies in contactwith the ball 14 of the section 12 andV is also provided withlongitudinally-extending fingers or projections 20. I have shown in thedrawings four of such ngers or projections; but it is obvious that anyother suitable number may be employed. Surrounding the tingers orVprojections 20 are the coil-springs 21, which act upon the presserblocks17 and 18 to separate the same and force them into engagement with theballs 14 and 13, respectively. The presser-block 18 is provided with anannular curved surface 22, similar to the annular surface 19 on thepresser-block 17.V As the presser-blocks 17 and 18 are forced apart bythe springs 21 into engagement with the balls 14 and 13, respectively,said springs thereby act to force said balls outwardly and to maintainthe same in constant contact with the bearing-surfaces 8 and 7. Theballs 13 and 14 are held against displacement from the bearing-surfaces7 and 8, and consequently a close impervious joint is maintained at eachof these points at all times. As this constant contact is maintained,the danger of corrosion of the bearing parts is avoided, andconsequently the leaky joints produced by such corrosion are obviated.

The coupling-section 23 is provided with a ICO hollow ball or sphericalenlargement 24, similar in all respects to those heretofore referred to,and the bearing-surface 10 on the cap 9, with which the ball 24cooperates, is similar in all respects to the bearing-surfaces 7 and 8.Located within the extension 3 of the casing 1, between the ball 24 andthe flange or ledge 5, is a presser-block 26, similar in all respects tothe presser-block 17, heretofore referred to, the same being providedwith longitudinally-extending fingers or projections 27, which aresurrounded by the coil-springs 2S, as clearly shown. The said springs 2Sact at one end against the ledge or shoulder 5 and at the other endagainst the presser-block 26 to force the latter away from said ledge orshoulder into engagement with the ball 24. The result of this action isto force said ball 24 outwardly and maintain close contact at all timesbetween said ball and the bearingsurface 10, with which it cooperates.

Now it will be observed that by the construction described any one orall of the coupling-sections 11, 12, and 23 may be turned or moved inany direction with respect to each other or to the casing 1 without inany way aecting the joints between the said sections and said casing.Impervious joints are maintained by the provision of the springs 2l and28, which serve to force the balls or spherical enlargements on saidcoupling-sections outwardly into contact with the bearing-surfaces withwhich they coperate.

It is of course essential that close joints be produced between the caps5a, 6, and 9 and the ends of the casing 1, to which said caps aresecured. This result is effected by rabbeting each end of the body 2 andthe end of the extension 3 to form annular grooves or recesses 29 andrabbeting the inner faces of the caps 5, 6, and 9 to form the annularribs or tongues 30. The said ribs or tongues tit tightly within saidgrooves and prevent leakage at these points into or from the casing 1.Washers 3l may also be employed, if desired, on the fingers 2O and 27for adjusting the tension of the springs 2l and 28.

In an application for patent filed by me concurrently herewith, SerialNo. 88,634, I have shown, described, and claimed the presser-blocks 17and 18 and the springs 2l, surrounding the fingers 2O and serving tomove the balls 13 and 14 outwardly into eugagement with thebearing-surfaces 7 and 8. I do not, therefore, claim such constructionbroadly herein; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a T-coupling for pipes and the like, the combination with a casingcomprising a body and an extension communicating therewith and leadingoutwardly therefrom, annular bearing-surfaces surrounding openings atthe ends of said body and at the end of said extension, andcoupling-sections having balls or spherical enlargements thereonextending into said casing at the opposite ends of said body and at theend of said extension, of a spring acting in opposite directions uponthe balls in said body to maintain the same in constant contact with thebearingsurfaces with which they coperate, and a spring acting upon astationary part and upon the ball which projects into said extension toforce the same outwardly and maintain it in constant contact with thebearingsurface with which it coperates.

2. In a T-coupling for pipes and the like, the combination with a casingcomprising a body and an extension communicating therewith and leadingoutwardly therefrom, annular bearing-surfaces surrounding openings atthe ends of said body and at the end of said extension, andcoupling-sections having balls or spherical enlargements thereon eX-tending into said casing at the opposite ends of said body and at theend of said extension, of a plurality of presser-blocks located withinsaid body between the balls therein, a spring acting upon said presser-blocks to force the same outwardly into engagement with the balls insaid body and to maintain the latter in constant contact with thebearing-surfaces with which they cooperate, a presser-block in saidextension and a spring acting upon the latter presser-block and upon astationary part for forcing the latter presser block outwardly intoengagement with the ball in said extension and maintaining the latterball in constant contact with the bearing-surface with which itcooperates.

3. In a T-coupling for pipes and the like, the combination with a casingcomprising a body and an extension communicating therewith and leadingoutwardly therefrom, annular bearing-surfaces surrounding openings atthe ends of said body and at the end of said extension, andcoupling-sections having balls or spherical enlargements thereonextending into said casing at the opposite ends of said body and at theend of said extension, of a plurality of presser-blocks in said bodybetween the balls therein, a spring acting upon said presser-blocks toforce the same apart into engagement with the balls in said body and tomaintain'the latter in constant contact with the bearing-surfaceswithwhich they coperate, a flange or ledge between the body of said. casingand said extension, a. presser-block in said extension and a springinterposed between the latter presser-block and said ledge or flange forforcing the same outwardly into engagement with the ball in saidextension to maintain the latter ball in constant contact with thebearing-surface withA which it cooperates.

4. In a T-coupling for pipes and the like, the combination with a casingcomprising a body and an extension communicating therewith and leadingoutwardly therefrom, annular bearing-surfaces surrounding openings atthe ends of said body and at the end of said extension, andcoupling-sections having balls IOO IIO

or spherical enlargements thereon extending into said casing at theopposite ends of said body and at the end of said extension, of aplurality of presser-blocks in said body between the balls therein, oneof said presserblocks being provided with a plurality oflongitudinally-extending fingers or projections, coil-springssurrounding said fingers and acting upon said presser-blocks in oppositedirections to force the same outwardly into engagement with the balls insaid body and maintain the latter in constant contact with thebearing-surfaces with which they coperate, a ledge or flange between thebody of said casing and said extension, a presserblock in said extensionhaving longitudinally- JOHN J. REILLY.

Witnesses:

WM. M. STOCKBRIDGE, EWELL A. DICK.

